Sprinkler head and nozzle



Fb. 18, 1958 J, o, HRUBY, JR 2,823,952

SPRINKLER HEAD AND NOZZLE Filed Nav. 4, 1955v dgydl.

una 49 JOHN 0. HRUBY, df?.

IN V EN TOR.

Huebner, Bee/ller, Worrel- E Herzig.

ATTDRNEYS.

United States Patent@ SPRINKLER HEAD AND NOZZLE John O. Hmby, Jr., Burbank, Calif., assigner, by mesne assignments, to Rain .let Corp., Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation Application November 4, 1955, Serial N o. 544,976

7 Claims. (Cl. 299-64) This invention relates to uid discharging and distributing devices and relates more particularly to sprinkler heads and nozzles.

It is a general object of this invention to provide improved sprinklers and nozzles of the type illustrated and described in letters patent of the United States, Nos. 2,589,942 and 2,639,191, issued to me on March 18, 1952 and May 19, 1953, respectively.

Sprinkler heads and nozzles of the above referred to type are characterized by a stem disposed longitudinally in a sprinkler or nozzle body and arranged to be both rotated on the Stem axis and gyrated in the body, the axis of the'stem being inclined with respect to the axis of the body. It sometimes occurs in nozzles and sprinklersof a design which duplicates that of the embodiments shown in the drawings of the above-mentioned patents, that particles of sand or dirt carried in the uid stream passing through the nozzle or sprinkler become imbedded between the outside wall of the stem and that part of the body which retains the stem in the body, and hinders gyration of the stem in the body.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved fluid discharging and distributing device of the abovementioned character having structure such that sand and dirt particles carried in the uid stream do not become trapped in the device at a location where they may aiiect the gyration and rotation of the stem in the body.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved device of the above-mentioned character having increased rolling contact of the stem with the iiuid outlet end ofthe body, thereby to secure improved rotating and gyrating characteristics of the stem. r

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved device of the above-mentioned character which is so designed and constructed that it may be manufactured easily and simply according to mass-production methods for economical assembly with the view to reducing the cost thereof, r v

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear during the course of the following partV of this specification, wherein the details of construction and mode of operation of an embodiment of the invention are described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Fig. l is a side elevation of a sprinkler head embodying the invention, the same being mounted on a portion of a conduit of a lawn sprinkler system, the sprinkler headV being shown in central vertical section; and

Fig. 2 is a cross-section through the sprinkler, taken on` line 2-2 of Fig. l.

Referring to the drawing in greater detail and with the use of reference numerals, a conduit of a lawn sprinkler` system is shown and designated by reference numeral 10. Such conduit includes a pipe-T 11 which threadably receives apvertically extending riser 12. A sprinkler head, embodying the invention, is mounted in the riser, the

sprinkler head being designated generally by reference ,numeral 13.'

Sprinkler head 13 comprises a tubular body 15, which in the illustrated embodiment is cylindrical and circular in cross-section. It has an axially extending passage 16, preferably of circular cross-section. An annular end face 17 detines the upper end of the body while the opposite or lower end of the body is defined by an annularend face 18. As will be more fully explained hereinafter, only part of the water which enters the body is discharged directly from the body for distribution over the lawn. Such direct discharge of water from the body occurs through a top opening 19 deiined by the inner periphery of the end face 17, the same constituting a rim 20.

The passage 16 comprises a cylindrical lower portion 22 and an upper portion 23 of frusto-conical configuration. The smaller end of the frusto-conical portion 23 appears in the drawing as a line 24 extending in a horizontal plane around the internal wall of the body and along which the adjacent ends of the passage portions are contiguous. In axial length, the upper portion 23 may be from about 10 to 50% of the over-all length of the passage.

Formed in the internal wall of the body and proximate the lower end of the body is a recess 26 spaced above the lower end face 18 of the body. In the illustrated embodiment, the recess 26 is formed by a counter-bore 27 terminating at 28 as an annular shoulder which faces in the direction of end face 18. The lower boundary for the recess is defined by an upwardly facing end face of an annular bearing sleeve 29, the bearing sleeve being force fitted into the `counter-bore and thereby made an integral part of the body. Preferably the bearing sleeve 29 is formed of oil-impregnated sintered bronze. Al though the bearing sleeve 29 is shown in the drawing as having an axially extending bore which is cylindrical in configuration and` is herein referred to for purposes of convenience in its description as constituting the lower end portion of the passage 16, l desire to have it understood that the axially extending passage in the bearing sleeve need not be cylindrical, but may iare outwardly and upwardly, for example, or be otherwise suitably shaped, so long as it provides an upwardly directed annular shoulder for defining the lower end of the recess 26. Also, the bearing sleeve provides an edge 30 for the body, which in the illustrated` embodiment is defined by the'inner .periphery of the lower annular end face 18.

Arranged longitudinally in the body passage 16 is a tubular stem 32 of greater length than the passage whereby the stem extends above and below the passage. The stern is smaller in outside diameter than the body passage and is preferably circular in cross section. Reference numeral 33 designates the axially extending passage or bore of the stem, the same being open at its lower end to provide a water inlet opening 34. v

vThe stem is movable longitudinally in the body passage 16 and is moved upwardly by the force of water owing through the riser 12. Thus the sprinkler 13 is of the pop-up type. To limit the extent to which the stem may be moved upwardly in the body, there is a collar 36 around thelower end of the stem and fixed thereto as by means of a detent 37 pressed tight against the Youtside p surface of the stem. The lower end of the collar is preferably bevelled or countersunk as shown at 33. `A washer 39, preferably formed of non-metallic material, e. g. hard rubber or plastics material, is positioned on the stem between the collar and the bushing or bearing sleeve 29,'the washer being freely rotatable on the stem.

42 which in the illustratedV embodiment extends downy.

` wardly in the Ystem beyond the circumference of cach VPaiement Feb. 1s, 195s..

to cause the'streams, flowing .fromsthe orilicesstorbeedi- A rectcd m a horizontal planeffrom ther stem;,liciwewlerg--.in7

order to insure upwardinclinationof .the.istrean1s,-the..

lower end of'theplug is pointeddownwardly,as..shownrat 43 to detiect the water inthe stem-toewout throughs.

the orifices notonly outwardly/5. but-also upwardlys Abovethe orificesAlis a head'45-arranged-as--a collarl around the upper end` of:r the stem. upwardly and outwardly at-anangle offinclination de-y pending `upon' the degree -desired :for`A defiection of water from the bodyzpassage, aswill-.be described--morefullyf hereinafter. The .liead- 45 is larger inffdiameterA than opening 19, whereby the head serves-.asfavvalve to closerthe bodyy passage. 1.6 vwhen thewater., to the. sprinkler isf.

turned-` off Yandltlie stemdrops down; in; the, body,-

Intermediate'` theA upper end :of'thebodyyand the -recessf 26, and preferably below= the frusto-conical p ,ortion!23.-ofthe body passageas shown-is a plurality of apertures47,

each of .whichextends':through lthe `body wall at,y anfangle with respect to the radii of the bore passage, for causing streams of water` toenter they body-passage andespiral or rotate aroundandupwardly in the body-.passage., As.A best shown in..Fig. 2 of, the drawing, the'. apertures 47 of the illustrated embodiment aresubstantiallytangential \bv1th respect tothe body/passage 16 and tare four'innnumer. from the slant of the apertures 4'-7f causesstem-Sto revolve within the body passagewith'the axisfof the" stem being inclined with respect to. theaxis lof theebodyv passage. Thus the stern contacts the edge` 30.;of the bearing sleeve and rolls within and around'theedge V30:.

The above described structureprovidesa Elawn sprinkler:

in which thestreams of water fiowingfrom the orificesffll'- move not only angularly, with respecttofthe horizontal,

around the sprinkler as aresult ofrotationofthe, stem: onY its axis; but also upwardly and downwardly in vertical:v

planes, thereby distributingV the water fromfthe'orifices ma-wide area around the sprinkler. Also, thezwater flowing upwardly in the body passage around-thefstemn is defiected by the stem revolving around in thezbody pas-i sage and is furthermore deflected bytthecunder" Sideofthe; head 45 as wellas by the streams of waterV from the; orificesv41` to provide for distribution of Water;over ther inside areav around and adjacent the sprinkler. Sucht distribution of .water'over the-lawnisby way.of=discrete drops of waterasfcontra'sted with the sprays offfinemistk orthe heavy streams produced by numerousftypesfof.v` For av fuller-description -ofi the characteristics of the water distributiondeveloped by."

other well-known sprinklers;

sprinklers of the hereindescribed type, I refer tovthe, above mentioned patentsand particularly 'to PatentLNm. 2,639,191 which illustrates diagrammatically. typicalzpatterns` of wateridistribution produced Vby 'these sprinklers.

IhaveI found that sprinklers of'thev type described inr my aboveV referenced prior patents wear excessivelyy around the inside of the lower end or edge 30'of thebody passage. Although some wear also occurs aroundfthe rim of .the passage opening: 19, I have found, too,. that" I may mamtain'the stem' out ofcontactiwithethe rim 20 and still` obtain rotation of the stem on its axis and revolution of the` stem around, thek inside of; the body with ther axis ofthe stern being inclined with respect to the axis ofthe body. Thus by'makingthe-upper-portion 23: ofl body'passage frusto-conical in configuration: as above described, ,and withthe inclinationA ofthe walls'v defining theV frustoeconical portionbeing such that the stem'will lieiiush against the wallsof the frusto-conical portion throughout'the full height oftheA frusto-conicall portion when thestem is in contact with the edge: 30, the

sprinkler 13"provide& substantially; increased surface: on.

whichtthe: stern mayxroll, thereby substantially improv Its underside; slopes The swirl of water in the-body passage resulting.

notwithstanding these improvementsl find -thatisandfandfV other foreign particles carried-'in the vwater andfiprerhaps dropping into the body as through opening 19;' become lodged between the stem and thebearingsleeve;and .thereby restrict free rolling of the stem along vthe edge 30 at least until a sufficient force of water-isdeveloped within the body to dislodge such particles. When the sprinkler is in full operation, water from the riser 12 seeps into the body from aroundthe ywasher 39-.and such, seepage is sufiicient to prevent particles from droppingdown be-l tween the stem and'bearing edge 30, but fwhenthe water. is turned off, any foreign particles remaining inthe b ody will drop down uponv the washer and when. nextthe sprinkleris operated such particles will rub againstfthe. lowerV end face 13l and within the edge 3l) and thus yimpede revolution of the stem. To correct these disadvantages, I have provided the recesslwhichserves as a.reservoir intoy whichforeign particles. are deposited due. tothe. cen' trifugallforce developedby the spiralling of waterv in the bodypassage.

Thewatert distribution device of this invention, is designedias. a conventional Vlawn sprinkler byproviding a headj 49 into =which the body 15 is screw threadedat threads 50,V the head also serving to close theuppenendf body. Thisfrecess also serves to receive the upperfrend. of, the stem'including the stem head 45 when the-stem,

drops down inthe-body passage to its stand-,by position.

Thustthestemais Vprotected by the sprinkler head 49=from.

being damagedas a result of traffic overthelawn.

While-Lhave herein shown and described'rny, invention inwhatflehave/ conceivedv to be the most practical,l and..

preferredembodiment, it` is.recognized that; departures may bef made therefromwithin the scope -of my, invenf,A

tion, which is not to beV limited to the details` disclosed, herein,-but'isto beaccordedthe full scopexof the claims so as-to embrace anyl and all equivalent structures.

Having; described my invention, what I claim-as-new. and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A fiuid discharge device comprisinga bodyY having an inside wall defining an open-ended passage extendingy through the bodyf,lone end of the passage defining a fluid discharge opening, an elongate stern arranged longitudinally, in=the passage,l means spaced from said discharge openingA deninga bearing, face extending around the. passage andfacing. in a` direction away, from said discharge opening, said bearing face having an inside edge, means onf the-stem engageabler with the bearing face preventing removal of the sternI out from the passage andpermittingffreeL gyrationl of the stem in the passage in rollingcontactwithsaid' inside edge, said inside wally of the body havingA a recess formed` therein. and located between said., discharge opening and said bearing face and proximate said b'earingrface; there being a recess shoulder deningthatend of they recess proximate the discharge opening, the recessfshoulder facing toward saidbearingl face,l and serving to trap foreign particles carried inthe fiuidepassing throughfthe discharge device, and fluid pasing in the body passage so as to gyrate the stem to-rollA The head 49 is.screw threaded as at 5.1 tothe.

around said inside edge with -the stem being inclined with respect to the axis of the body passage.

2. A fluid discharge device comprising a body having an inside wall defining an open-ended passage extending through the body, one end of the passage defining a fluid discharge opening in the body, a tubular stern arranged longitudinally in the passage, the stem having an orifice in one end portion thereof constituting a fluid discharge end, the other end of the stem being open and constituting a fluid inlet end, means spaced from said discharge opening defining a bearing face in the body around the passage and facing in a direction away from said discharge opening, said bearing face having an inside edge, means on the stem engageable with the bearing face preventing removal of the stern out from the passage and permitting free gyration of the stem in the passage in rolling contact with said inside edge, said inside wall of the body having a recess formed therein and located between said discharge opening and said bearing face and proximate said bearing face, there being a recess shoulder defining that end of the recess proximate the discharge opening, the recess shoulder facing toward said bearing face and serving to trap foreign particles carried in the fluid passing through the discharge device, and fluid passage means formed in said body for imparting rotary motion to the fluid flowing in the body passage so as to gyrate the stem to roll around said inside edge with the stem being inclined with respect to the axis of the body passage.

3. A fluid discharge device comprising a body having an internal wall defining a substantially straight, elongate, open-ended passage extending through the body, said passage being arcuate in cross-section throughout the length thereof, one end of the passage defining a fluid discharge opening in the body, a tubular stem of arcuate configuration in cross-section arranged longitudinally in the passage, the stem having one end thereof extending outwardly beyond said discharge opening, said one end of the stem being open and constituting a fluid discharge end, the other end of the stem being open and constituting a fluid inlet end, means spaced from said discharge opening defining a bearing face in the body around said passage facing in a direction opposite to said discharge opening, said bearing face having an inside edge of arcuate configuration, means on the stem engageable with the bearing face preventing removal of the stem out from the discharge opening of the passage and permitting free gyration of the stem in the passage with the outside surface of the stern in rolling contact with said inside edge, said inside wall of the body having an annular recess formed therein and located between said discharge opening and said bearing face and proximate said bearing face, there being a recess shoulder defining that end of the recess proximate the discharge opening, the recess shoulder facing toward said bearing face and serving to trap Vforeign particles carried in the fluid passing through the discharge device, and fluid passage means formed iin the body for imparting rotary motion to the stream of fluid flowing in the body passage so as to gyrate the stem to roll around said inside edge with the stem being inclined with respect to the axis of the body passage.

4. A fluid discharge device according to claim 3 wherein said body passage and said stem and said inside edge are circular in cross-section.

5. A fluid discharge device comprising a body having an inside wall defining a substantially straight and openended passage of circular cross-section extending through the body, one end of the passage defining a fluid discharge opening, a straight elongate stem of circular crosssection arranged longitudinally in the passage, means spaced from said discharge opening defining an annular bearing edge around said passage, the stem being of smaller diameter than the passage whereby the stem is freely rotatable on its axis and may revolve around in the passage with the axis of the stem being inclined with respect to the axis of the passage, a portion of the passage adjacent the discharge opening being of frustoconical configuration, the remaining portion of the passage being substantially cylindrical, the inside wall of the body defining said frusto-conical portion being inclined to an extent such that the stern when in inclined position in contact with said bearing edge will lie flush against said frusto-eonical portion throughout the full height of the frusto-conical portion, and fluid passage means formed in the body for imparting rotary motion to the fluid flowing in the body passage so as to rotate the stem on its axis and cause the stem to gyrate in the passage with the stem being in rolling contact with said bearing edge and said frusta-conical portion.

6. A fluid discharge device according to claim 5 wherein the axial length of said frusto-conical portion is about 10 to 50% of the axial length of the body passage.

7. A lawn sprinkler comprising a body having an inside wall defining a vertical, straight, elongate, and open-ended passage extending through the body, said passage being circular in cross-section throughout the full length thereof, the upper end of the passage wall and the outside surface of the body forming a rim defining a water discharge opening, said passage being of frusto-conical configuration in that portion thereof adjacent said rim with the base of said frusto-conical portion being coincident with said rim and the smaller end of the frusto-conical portion being spaced inwardly from said rim, the passage being substantially cylindrical in that portion thereof extending from said smaller end, said cylindrical portion of the passage being substantially equal in cross-sectional area to the area defined by said smaller end, the body having a counterbore formed in the lower end of the body and extending upwardly to define an annular shoulder facing in a direction opposite to said discharge opening, a bearing sleeve having an internal cross-sectional area substantially the same as that of the cylindrical portion of the passage, said sleeve being formed of oil impregnated sintered metal and being force-fitted coaxially in said counterbore, the upper end of the sleeve being spaced from said Shoulder to define an annular pocket for trapping san-d and foreign particles carried in the water passing through the sprinkler, the lower end of the sleeve defining a bearing face facing in the direction of said recess shoulder, said bearing face having an inner annular edge, a cylindrical tubular stem of circular cross-section arranged longitudinally in the passage, the stern being of greater length than the passage and having the upper end of the stem projecting upwardly beyond said discharge opening and the lower end of the stern projecting downwardly beyond said bearing face, the stem being of lesser outside diameter than the diameter of the cylindrical portion of the passage, a collar xed around the outside surface of the stem at the lower end of the stem limiting upward movement of the stem in the passage and permitting free gyration of the stem in the passage with the outside surface of the stem in rolling contact with said inner edge, a washer disposed around the stem and between said collar and said bearing sleeve, and a plurality of aper tures formed in the body tangent to the body passage for admitting water to the body passage and for imparting rotary movement to the water in the passage to cause rotation of the stem on its axis and gyration of the stem in the body passage.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,639,191 Hruby May 19, 1953 

